Page 66 of Wings of Betrayal
I ready my powers before facing them. Five enormous males remove their hoods and then draw their weapons. I swallow hard, staring at the large swords they are each now holding.
“Show yourself,” the one in front demands. Clearly, he’s in charge.
Knowing there’s not a hell of a lot I can do, I go along with their request and slowly remove my hood. My powers are strong, stronger than they will expect. I’m not afraid of them; I’ve taken watchers down before, and I can do it again with ease.
Their eyes widen, and they gasp as they stare at me.
“Why are you here?” the one in front asks and then takes a step toward me.
I raise my hands and will my powers to flow from the ends of my fingers like vines, ready to attack.
The males are all attractive. Something I’ve come to expect of the watchers, but I can’t let that distract me from their ruthless ways. They will kill me, given half the chance. I scan the group, deciding whether to just tell them the reason for my visit or not. It’s probably easier than fighting them. There will be plenty more watchers around the next corner.
“Don’t make me ask you again,” the male growls, gripping his sword tighter while he eyes my swirling powers.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I am here to see Zalore.”
He frowns at me, confusion twisting his handsome features. “It’s King Zalore, and females as pretty as you shouldn’t be traveling the Kingdoms alone.”
“I’m not alone.”
The watchers eye my powers, and then the one in front seems to relax somewhat.
“Come. We will escort you.” He gestures with a wave of his hand and heads back out to the street.
The other watchers linger, waiting for me to do as I’m told. I raise my head a little higher as I follow the male watcher out onto the street. The other watchers follow behind me, stretching my nerves, but something tells me they won’t harm me.
I follow him through the streets of the city until a castle appears a couple of blocks up ahead. The enormous black stone structure towers over every other building in sight, and shadows loom within every corner of its vicinity.
Movement in the shadows catches my eye, and I spot some sort of four-legged animal about half the size of a Zelon. They snarl menacingly. A shudder ripples down my spine at the creatures hiding there, watching me.
Their growls echo through the still, nighttime air, and I all but drag my gaze from them to refocus on the watcher in front, leading me into this potential death trap.
Will Zalore take one look at me and kill me? One can only hope, as the alternative is not something I can stomach.
We finally make it to the main doors, and I immediately see the building is smaller than our castle back in Silanthia. I don’t doubt for one second that there is more to it than meets the eye, though.
The huge male watcher leads me through the main doors, guarded by more watchers, who whisper amongst themselves and eye me as I pass by. Gods above, how long has it been since they’ve seen a female? How many of them know Astelle is here? How many females do they have here in total? Judging by their reactions, it can’t be many.
We cross a vast, open lobby before stopping at an elevator. He presses a button, and the doors open before he steps inside the small space. I gulp, and someone shoves me inside. My foot catches the edge of the elevator, and I stumble, landing in the enormous male’s arms. He breathes in my scent before somewhat reluctantly releasing me.
I quickly back up to the rear of the elevator as four other large males step inside, crowding the already small space, which makes me regret my decision to go so willingly with these deadly males. This is more than likely a trap, one I’m not entirely sure I’m prepared to get out of. Sweat beads at the nape of my neck as the elevator takes us down for what feels like an eternity. When it finally comes to a stop, there’s a ding before the doors open, and I am yet again shoved from behind. This time, though, I don’t trip.
“Where are you taking me?” I demand, and the high-pitched tone of my voice is a dead giveaway of how anxious I am right now.
The large male in front turns and smirks at me without saying a word. We stop outside another set of doors, and he opens them to reveal a vast room with jagged stone walls and impossibly high ceilings. The flooring is black stone, and there are black side tables along the walls with lit black candles. In fact, everything is black, , giving off a seriously dodgy killer vibe, and it smells like dirt and death down here. What in the gods was I thinking?
I’m shoved again, and it’s one time too many. I spin around, pulling my dagger from my thigh strap and hold it up to the male’s throat.
“Shove me again, and it’ll be the last thing you do,” I threaten.
He narrows his eyes at me, and we have a stare-off.
“Enough. Come,” the watcher in charge demands.
I reluctantly slide my dagger back into place and follow the male leading me to gods know where. Most likely my inevitable death.
“Are you taking me to Zalore?” My voice quivers a little, and even I don’t recognise myself.